Adam Hasner: Florida amendment would protect workers' secret ballot
Labor union bosses are on the verge of winning legislation called the Employee Free Choice Act and denying employees the right to cast ballots in private in union organizing elections. Rather than holding a monitored workplace election using secret ballots, as has been the case for decades, under this proposal the union would automatically be created in businesses with more than 10 employees once the union collects "authorization cards" signed by a majority of the employees. No questions. No debate. No secret ballot. You're unionized.
The right to vote in private, free from coercion or intimidation, is one of the pillars of our nation's democracy, and it is so fundamental that it transcends partisanship.
Even longtime labor supporters such as George McGovern and the Rev. Al Sharpton have voiced their opposition to this undemocratic measure. They agree that workers deserve the right to hear all sides of the issues, the right to question relevant people, and the right to decide individually after an open and honest process.
And while efforts to oppose Employee Free Choice Act in Washington continue, I have joined a national effort under way in 10 other states to Save Our Secret Ballot (www.sosballot.org ) so that in Florida we can preserve the fundamental right to a secret ballot and democratic workplace elections.
State Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, and I are sponsoring joint resolutions — HJR 1013/SJR 1908 — which, with voter approval, would amend Florida's constitution "to protect and preserve the fundamental right of individuals to vote by a secret ballot" in all elections required by federal, state or local law. Most would assume that voting by a secret ballot is already a constitutionally guaranteed right, but it is not.
Save Our Secret Ballot is not an anti-union proposal. It is a pro-worker protection proposal. Intimidation and harassment are wrong whether coming from a union boss or a management boss. With a secret ballot, Florida's workers are the boss.
It's no secret that our state and our nation face unprecedented economic challenges. Protecting worker's rights is essential if we want to create and protect jobs and get our economy moving again.
Recently, the Democrats in the Florida House elected their party leader using a secret ballot process. If choosing their workplace leader by secret ballot is good enough for Democratic politicians in Tallahassee, then guaranteeing the right to secret ballot elections should be the right thing to do for the workers of our state.
Electing those who represent us at work is just as important as electing those who represent us in government. Voters cast their votes free from fear of retribution from their government, and they deserve the same right to be free of fear of retaliation from their union, their employer and their fellow employees.
Tallahassee Democrat